# Buying over the internet **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2004, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-over-the-internet/223807 "2004-01-10T08:34:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr\_Creosote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Mr\_Creosote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Creosote)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-over-the-internet/223807/1 "2004-01-10T08:34:19Z")
Do you guys know if there is any website which either identifies trustworthy companies or known scam artists that operate over the internet? I’m thinking of buying a diamond from a company listed on [http://www.bbbonline.org/](http://www.bbbonline.org/) , is this a genuine organisation? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-over-the-internet/223807/2 "2004-01-10T08:53:52Z")
Try this site RIP OFF REPORT It’s pretty interesting reading. It basically allows people to share their experiences they had. I’ve learned by reading it --\> never by anything from IGIA or “the internet treasure chest.” ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-over-the-internet/223807/3 "2004-01-10T13:50:09Z")
That site gives all the appearances of being a completely legitimate extension of the main Better Business Bureau website ([www.bbb.org](http://www.bbb.org)). From that main site, there’s a link to the e-commerce branch that you’ve cited. On the other hand, the link provided by **Markxxx** indicates that just about anybody can get the BBB seal, that the BBB doesn’t actually investigate the companies it certifies, and that the BBB doesn’t actually become involved in resolving a dispute you might have with one of the registered companies. Research, research, research!! Pay by credit card, so if there’s a problem, you can stop payment. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Creosote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Mr\_Creosote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Creosote)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-over-the-internet/223807/4 "2004-01-10T20:14:49Z")
Thanks for the info, looks like it’s a case of caveat emptor… ---
**Author:** ![USNSPARKS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9fc348/32.png) [@USNSPARKS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USNSPARKS)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-over-the-internet/223807/5 "2004-01-10T20:45:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Markxxx \* > \*\*Try this site > RIP OFF REPORT > > It’s pretty interesting reading. It basically allows people to share their experiences they had. I’ve learned by reading it → never by anything from IGIA or “the internet treasure chest.” \*\* Looks like your 5 minutes of fame have been extended. 😃 I just tried your link and go sent to [http://www.ripoffreport.com/default.asp](http://www.ripoffreport.com/default.asp) because of heavy volume. Here’s another place worth checking out. I just submitted a complaint to them re the run around I’m getting from Home Depot. [http://www.planetfeedback.com/consumer](http://www.planetfeedback.com/consumer) ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-over-the-internet/223807/6 "2004-01-11T04:27:37Z")
The Rip Off Report is just fun reading. Especially about Priceline. You would be how many people complain about being ripped off from Priceline when it was their own fault. One lady said “I bought a ticket from Priceline, two days later I found it cheaper somewhere else. Can You believe they wouldn’t let me cancel? What a rip off!” Clearly Priceline says NO REFUNDS. But it IS fun reading. Especially the airlines and False Adverts. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-over-the-internet/223807/7 "2004-01-11T05:23:16Z")
I don’t know, I would be very tentative about buying a diamond online. It’s really hard to say what a diamond is worth without VERY close inspection, like under a microscope. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-over-the-internet/223807/8 "2004-01-11T05:51:18Z")
How about [bizrate.com](http://bizrate.com)? I use them all the time. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-over-the-internet/223807/9 "2004-01-11T06:00:57Z")
The Washington Post addresses buying diamonds online in tomorrow’s (Sunday) edition. Here’s a [link to the article](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1941-2004Jan8.html), complete with Do’s & Don’ts and tips for choosing a website. They recommend [bluenile.com](http://bluenile.com), [buyarock.com](http://buyarock.com), and [diamond.com](http://diamond.com). ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-over-the-internet/223807/10 "2004-01-11T06:06:35Z")
That ripoffreport is interesting. They have a category for Abusive Children and Abusive Parents. I’m not sure how that fitsin the overall scheme of their site.i ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-over-the-internet/223807/11 "2004-01-11T15:12:40Z")
I would think sites like > **[Shopping Online at Shopping.com | Price Comparison Site](https://www.shopping.com/)** > > Shopping.com is a leading price comparison site that allows you shop online for the best deals and lowest prices. You can read unbiased product reviews and compare prices online. Online shopping has never been as easy! or [http://www.mysimon.com/](http://www.mysimon.com/) have checked their sources for reliable businesses.